In this news alert:

IRELAND – Delays in Booking Irish Residence Permit Appointments

As of 4 January 2018, non-EEA nationals are experiencing extensive delays in securing an appointment for Irish Residence Permit (IRP) registration in the Burgh Quay registration office in Dublin (formerly known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB) via the online booking system.

Currently, appointments are being released for a date a minimum of nine weeks in the future. These appointments are issued daily at 10.00am. Cancelled appointment slots are automatically released as they become available. When the registration office has extra capacity, they will regularly release appointments for closer dates depending on the capacity of the office. These appointments are typically released online from 2.30pm-5.00pm.

Impact

The recent changes to the registration system, and the delays in obtaining appointments for Irish Residence Permits have an impact on anyone requiring a re-entry visa to travel outside Ireland, as only residence permit holders can book appointments for re-entry visas.

The Irish immigration authorities have advised that any gaps in immigration permission due to the delays experienced in securing appointments will not prejudice applicants’ immigration records, provided that the applicant secures an appointment as soon as possible for some date in the future.

Background

Effective 11 December 2017, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) replaced the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) card with a new registration card called the Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

Current GNIB card holders should not apply for a new IRP until their GNIB card expires (or is lost or stolen).

The IRP, like the GNIB, applies to all non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss nationals, aged 16 years or over, who wish to stay in Ireland for any reason for longer than 90 days.

Action Items

Non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss nationals, aged 16 years or over, who wish to stay in Ireland for any reason for longer than 90 days, should book the next available appointment with the immigration authorities for IRP registration, and follow up with the immigration office by telephone and email in case an earlier appointment becomes available.

Initial and renewal residence permit applicants who need to obtain a re-entry visa to travel outside Ireland should allow enough time for residence registration appointment booking and processing to be completed before the re-entry visa appointment.